Vehicle running gear and driving mechanism



Nov; 23 1926.

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Y Filed Feb. 16

Nav. 23 1926.

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Nov. 23 1926.

A. H. LAcEY ET Al.

VEHIGLE RUNNING GEAR AND DRIVING MECHANISM 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet Z5 FiledFeb. 16

Nov.` 23 1926.

A. H. LACEY ET AL VEHICLE RUNNING GEAR AND DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Feb.16', 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 Co/umvb/a M. Crosofz Parenteel Nov.23,1926.

- UNITED STATES VEHICLE RUNNING GEABLAND DRIVING MECHANISM.

' Application'led February 16, 1925. Serial No.'v9,388. i

The invention relates to road vehicles and particularly to the runninggear and driving mechanism thereof. I

An object of the invention is to provide amounting and a drivingmechanism for four driving wheels of' a power propelled vehicle. l

Another object-bf the invention is to provide a four wheel running gearwhich will cause a minimum transmission of roadf shocks to the vehicleframe.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for dii'erentiallydriving the four driving wheels of the vehicle .through r 15. a singledifferential unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a four wheel drivingmechanism in which a single axle housing is employed, in combinationwith means for differentially driving the four wheels.

25 that form of our invention which we have 'selected for illustrationin the drawings accompanying and forming part ofthe presentspeciiication. 'In said drawings wev have shown one form of apparatusembodying our invention, but it is to be understood that we do not limitourselves to such form, since thev invention, as set forth in theclaims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.l

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the rear end of a vehicle frameprovided w'ith the running gear and driving mechanism of our invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in sec- 40 tion, of the runninggear anddriving mechanism shown in Figure 1. Figureq is a horizontalsection through the driving gear on one side of thelvehicle,

r portions'thereof being broken ,away to re .45 duce the sizeof theligure.

Figure 4 is a section taken on' the line 4 4 Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a` transverse section of a vehicle provided with a modifiedform of running gear and driving mechanism.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section through the driving gear of the vehicleshown 1n Figure v5, portions thereof being broken a modified I ,s awayto reduce the size of the 5 Figure 7 1s a side elevatnin o frame, andusually below the frame, is a .form of construction in the drive axlesare displaced-from the vertical plane of the axis of pivot of theequalizing beams.

Figure 8 is a partial longitudinal sectionv of the drivevaxles andequalizing beam arrangement shownin Figure 7 I Our invention relates toa road vehicle and particularly to afroadvehicle of the type having fourdriving Wheels, the Wheels being arranged in pairs with one pair on eachside of the vehicle. The invention relates particularly .to the meansfor driving the four wheels and the connection between the Wheelsandvehicle frame. The wheels are arranged in pairs on opposite sides ofthe vehicle and each pair of wheels is mounted so as to be independentlymovable with respect to the other pair, as the vehicle travels overrough and uneven roads. Each of the four Wheels is differentiallydriven, so' that. excessive wear of the tires is `not' produced, and -sothat wear of the driving mechanism is reduced to a minimum.

Arranged at each side of the 12 is a long leaf spring 13, the springbeing pivoted to the frame at one end and connected theretoat the otherend by the shackle 14. Extending I transversely across the vehicle framerigid transverse member, in the present 4in- 5 stance comprising a driveaxle housing 15. This housing is provided adjacent its ends with saddles16 to which the lSprings 13 are clamped by the bolts 17. The axlehousing 15 is disposed intermediate the ends of the spring 13 andpreferably at the center thereof. Therigid transverse member 15, otherthan actingl as an axle housing, serves to prevent torsion i`n thespring 13. J ournaled on each` end `of the axle housing 15, vis an-equalizing beam 19, which is preferably fulcrumed at its center'on theaxle housing. The beam 19 is preferably rigid, and is normally parallelor substantiall parallel with l .the frame 12. An equalizing cam-19 isful- 10 crumed on each side of the vehicle frame, and these beams areinde endently movable about their fulcrums, so t at the wheels 21, whichare mounted on the ends of the beams,

may cause independent oscillations ofthe 105V beams as the wheels travelover a even road.

The equalizin of metal, is pre erably hollow and contains rough unthedriving means for' the wheels.V 'FittingA 11H0 beam 19, which is f-.f 1.'l

squarely against the inner or bottom Wall of the said Socket. rheoperator then uses a hammer7 striking the outer plug in the direction ofthe length of the axle whereby the Wheel is jarred loose from the a-Xleand Jche key thereof and may be quickly removed.

Having described the invention what is claimed is- A device adapted tobe used for removing' a Wheel from un axle upon which it is keyedcomprising a body provided at its opposite ends with ulined Sockets ofdifferent sizes, `fand anvil plugs itting in the sockets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CASH A. CLEMONS.

respect to the frame, due to the interposition of the springs 13, eachdrive shaft is provided with two universal joints. The drive shaft 65 isprovided with two universal joints 71 and 72 and-the hollow drive shaftbrackets with respect to the differentialv .A contemplates the use ofother forms of e housing.

In Figures 7 and 8 we have shown a modified form of construction inwhich the concentric driving shafts are dis osed in front of the loadcarrying axle. he equalizing beam 81 is fulcrumed on the transversemember or load carrying axle 82, which is connected to the vehicle frameby springs, in the same manner as the transverse member 61, shown inFigure 5. The driving axles 83-84 are journaled at their outer endsinthe hollow equalizing beam 81, the drive axles bein concentric `asheretofore set forth. The rive axles are flexible and are displacedlongitudinally from the transverse member, inthe present instance, be-

ing positioned in front of the-:transverse member. The 'two axles areprovided on their ends, in each beam, with sprockets.

85-86, which are connected by chains 87-88, withvthe driving axles ofthe wheels, as heretofore set forth. This construction discloses that itis not essential for the drive shafts to be concentric with the axis offulcrum of the equalizing beams.

Our construction providesV a very easy riding running gear, in whicheach of the four wheels is independently movable in passing 'over anobstruction, so that the amount of road shock transferred to the vehicle4frame isreduced to a minimum. Furthermore, any wheel lmay rise or'fallwithout having any eiect on thejposition or direction of.' rotation ofany other wheel.A While we have shown the Vvehicle provided with lonsubstantially' flat leaf springs, connecte at their ends to thevehicleframe, itis to` be understood that our invention spring suspension.

-We claimz.

`1. A vehicle driving unit comprisingf a rigid transverse member, anequalizing beam pivoted on each end of said transverse member, wheelsjour-naled on the ends of said. beams, two concentric drive axlesconcentric with the pivotal axis of each beam,

means connecting-one drive axle with -on'e the beam.

2. A vehiclegdrivvng"unit"comprising' 7.

rigid transverse member, "equalizing" v,beams pivotedintermediate-their, ends on the ends of the transverse member,l a wheeljournalcd @n each end of. achfzequahzmg ,beams a \drive axleforjeachwheel, 'said driveaxles being mountedy .in concentric pairs,means connecting the drive'axlesto'tle respective.

wheels, a driving" shaft andv a double dif-fy ferential inter osedbetween 'the driving'v shaftand the our'drive' axles. j p

3. A vehicle* driving 4unit f comprising. a

rigid transverse member, equalizing beamspivoted intermediate their endsontheV ends of the transverse'niember, a wheel journaled on each end ofeach equalizing' beam, two concentric drive axles associated with eachbeam and concentric with 'the pivotal axis of each beam and drive meansconnecting the drive axles yto thefwheels respectively.

4. A vehicle driving unit comprising a rigid transverse member,equalizing beams pivoted intermediate their ends on the ends of thetransverse member, a wheel journaled on each end of each equalizingbeam, two concentric drive axles associated with each beam andconcentric with the pivotal axis of each beam', a drive shaft, va doubledifferential interposed between the drive shaft and the four drive axlesand drive means connecting the drive axles with the respective wheels.

5. A vehicle driving unit comprisin an axle housing,lequalizing beamspivote intermediate their ends on the ends of the axle housing, twopairs of concentric drive shafts in said housing,1each pair beingassociated with one of said beams, a drive shaft, diiferentialgearingvbetwee'n the drive shaft and the fourv axles, wheels journaledonfthe ends of said beamsand drive-means connecting the axles with therespective wheels.

6. A vehicle driving u nit comprising a hollow, equalizing beam pivotedintermediate its-ends on a transversely disposed trunnion, vspindlesrigidl secured at the ends ofthe beam, wheels journaled on saidspindles, axles secured to the' wheels and exlos' tendin finto the beam,a pair of concentric drlveaxles concentric with the trunnion extendinginto the beam and driving means disposed within the beam and connectingthe v)drive axleswith'the respective wheel axles.

drive -axles'wntric wit thel axis of ful-

